Additional purported evidence has emerged of Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini spending time together years before he became the New England Patriots' head coach. According to TMZ Sports, the 50-year-old Vrabel and the 43-year-old Russini reportedly rented a private boat together for one day in June 2021, while he was still the head coach of the Tennessee Titans. They rented the boat in Putnam County, Tennessee, and were the sole occupants during the rental period, which lasted between two and three hours, according to a source with direct knowledge.
The AFC Championship-winning coach and the former The Athletic journalist signed company waivers before embarking on the boat, as per documents obtained by TMZ Sports. The outlet has published images of these documents, with their signatures clearly visible. There was no public display of affection (PDA) between Vrabel and Russini before they left, the source told TMZ Sports. The two allegedly "appeared cautious" about having photos taken, according to the outlet. Russini declined to take a picture with staff, but Vrabel agreed, allegedly on the condition that no photos be published.
At the time of the alleged boat trip, Russini was pregnant with her first child from her marriage to Kevin Goldschmidt. The couple wed in 2020. Vrabel also shares two children with his wife, Jen, whom he married in 1999.
A week after the alleged boating incident with Vrabel, Russini posted an Instagram photo from a New Jersey beach that appeared to show Goldschmidt. "Lucky to have great people to spend this holiday with this July," Russini, whose Instagram page is now set to private, captioned the post.
Vrabel and Russini's relationship has been under scrutiny since April 7, when Page Six published photos of the two at a luxury Arizona hotel in March 2026. Since then, photos of them together on other occasions have surfaced, including pictures of them at a casino in 2024. The earliest photos of them together date back to 2020 and show them kissing at a New York City bar.
Russini resigned from The Athletic, owned by The New York Times, on April 14. Vrabel missed a day of the 2026 NFL draft to attend "counseling" and told reporters he took responsibility for his actions before the draft began. "I take accountability for my actions and the actions that caused a distraction to the people that I care most about - my family, this football team, the organization, and the fans," Vrabel said on April 23. "My priorities are my family and this football in that order. There's a balance there that I'm going to create. My family needs me this weekend and that's where I'll be."
Vrabel will not face any disciplinary action from the NFL since he has not violated the league's personal conduct policy, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told PEOPLE on April 20.
